The water spheres exploded against the Camerupts. Not only did they deal super-effective damage, but the splashing water temporarily blurred their vision and made the rocks beneath their feet slick and slippery.
It was a display of perfect teamwork.
Under the onslaught of the three Pokémon, the two Level 35 Camerupts retreated steadily, their bodies covered in more and more wounds.
Ariel stood not far away, calmly observing the battle. His mind raced as he continuously issued optimal commands.
Finally, the battle drew to a close after Krokorok completely disabled one Camerupt's ability to move with a vicious "Bite."
Seeing its companion fall, the other Camerupt let out a mournful cry. Sneasel seized the opportunity to slow it down with "Icy Wind," followed immediately by Frogadier's Water Pulse, which struck its head with precision, causing it to lose its ability to battle completely.
The fighting subsided, leaving only the sound of heavy breathing and the "sizzle" of lava dripping onto the ground on the mountain path.
Ariel looked around and confirmed that no one was nearby; there wasn't even a trace of a wild Pokémon.
Good.
He walked slowly toward the two dying Camerupts. There was no pity in his eyes, only the calm scrutiny of someone inspecting merchandise.
Their levels are decent, and their physiques are sturdy.
Whether selling them to Team Rockets for points or keeping them as tools for future expeditions, both were good options.
He casually pulled out two empty Poké Balls. With a flash of red light, he pulled the two despairing Camerupts inside.
Only after finishing this did he take out a Potion and begin treating his own Pokémon.
To him, this was just an ordinary battle, a minor harvest.
The real goal was still at the summit.
---He arrived halfway up the mountain.
He looked around, and after confirming no one was spying, he took an old map out of his backpack.
The map had a hidden path marked in red ink that almost overlapped with the contour lines; that was the true objective of his trip.
Just as he was concentrating on identifying the direction, a burst of noisy footsteps and hearty conversation approached from afar, breaking the silence of the mountains.
Ariel's brow furrowed imperceptibly. He quickly stowed the map, his body instantly switching from a relaxed state to a defensive posture, and his eyes became alert.
Three young people wearing brightly colored hiking gear appeared at the corner, looking completely out of place against the gray-brown volcanic landscape.
The leading youth had healthy wheat-colored skin and a bright smile. A proud Charmeleon followed beside him.
He spotted the solitary Ariel at a glance and waved enthusiastically.
"Brother, it's too dangerous to go up the mountain alone!"
The youth strode over, his voice booming.
"Lately, the Fire-type Pokémon on Mt. Chimney have been very irritable, and Trainers often get injured. We're volunteers from Lavaridge Town and know this terrain very well. Why don't we go together?"
Following behind him were a short-haired girl and another tall boy.
The girl's partner was a Wingull circling above her head; the boy's Combusken followed at his heels, its eyes sharp.
"I'm Ken, and these are Lele and Valk."
Ken introduced them familiarly.
Ariel's instinct was to refuse. He was used to traveling alone; having companions would only be a burden and expose his movements and strength.
But the words "know this terrain very well" made his heart stir.
His goal for this trip was to find a hidden location. Having locals lead the way would undoubtedly save a lot of time and energy.
More importantly... Ariel's gaze swept inconspicuously over the three of them and their energetic Pokémon.
Three natural pathfinders, three perfect buffers.
If they encountered a danger ahead that he couldn't overcome with force, they would be the best shields.
This thought only flashed through his mind for an instant before the coldness and calculation in his eyes were completely retracted.
In its place was a slightly cold but not entirely unwelcoming sense of detachment.
This was the most common disguise for a lone Trainer.
"Ariel," he uttered two words in response, which served as tacit consent to travel together.
Ken clearly didn't notice Ariel's true thoughts and just assumed he was introverted. He patted his chest even more enthusiastically: "Brother Ariel, just follow us! We'll make sure you get to the summit safely!"
The four-person team was thus temporarily formed, continuing their climb toward the crater.
The mountain path became increasingly treacherous. The volcanic rock beneath their feet was scalding; one careless step could lead to a burn.
Ken, Lele, and Valk were clearly regulars here. As they walked, they excitedly discussed recent interesting events in Lavaridge Town, and the atmosphere was quite relaxed.
Ariel followed silently at the side and rear of the group, maintaining a subtle distance from them.
He appeared to be observing the road conditions, but in reality, most of his energy was spent analyzing the strength and habits of these three.
Ken was hot-blooded and impulsive, with a bold and open commanding style. His Charmeleon was the same, accustomed to frontal assaults.
Lele had a more delicate mind. The presence of her Wingull could provide aerial reconnaissance and weather support.
Valk was a man of few words but had focused eyes. His Combusken had a steady gait and a solid lower body; it should be a skilled Fighting-type expert.
Their Pokémon choices were good, but their aptitudes were lacking.
Although the Charmeleon fought bravely, its size was somewhat small.
Although the Combusken used Fighting-type skills well, its speed was somewhat lacking.
While starter pokémon aren't something ordinary people can afford, the threshold wasn't as high as one might imagine.
In common League breeding centers, a starter pokémon with an aptitude around the advanced level usually costs between seven hundred to nine hundred thousand league coins.
But the drawback of such starter pokémon is also obvious: their growth limit is stuck at Level 39.
If that money for buying a Pokémon were given to Ariel, he would rather choose a Pokémon with Superior aptitude than a starter pokémon.
Hot-blooded Trainers from middle-class families.
Ariel made his assessment internally.
Suddenly, a series of heavy footsteps and angry roars came from ahead.
The ground began to vibrate slightly, and more than a dozen Torkoal rushed out from behind a huge rock. Their eyes were blood-red, and thick black smoke billowed from the holes in their shells. They were clearly in some kind of berserk state.
"It's a stampeding Torkoal pack! Everyone be careful!" Ken's face changed, and he immediately called out a warning while standing at the very front.
"Charmeleon, hold the front! Use Flamethrower!"
"Combusken, Double Kick! Attack their sides!" Valk also immediately ordered.
"Wingull, use Water Gun from the air!" Lele's command was also timely, attempting to use Water-type moves to counter the opponents.
For a moment, flames, water droplets, and fighting moves intertwined, making for a rather spectacular scene.
Ken's Charmeleon charged fearlessly at the front, using its body to forcefully withstand the collision of a Torkoal. Several black burn marks were instantly scorched onto its body.
Ariel watched coldly from the sidelines, taking a half-step back to hide in the shadow of a rock.
"Brother Ariel, come help!"
Ken looked back and shouted, his tone anxious.
Only then did Ariel unhurriedly toss out a Poké Ball.
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